News

August 13, 2015
If Unthinkable Happens, Child Safety Seat Sticker Could Save a Life
Pertinent Contact, Medical Information Available for 1st Responders

RICHMOND – Imagine this scenario: there’s a serious car crash involving a family; an infant in a child safety seat has a specific medical condition and needs care, but the other people in the car are unable to communicate.

Virginia’s new Child Safety Seat Emergency Identification Sticker is a tool to aid fire, rescue and law enforcement officers in this situation so they can learn important personal and medical information about a child. Also, if the other vehicle occupants in this scenario need medical care and the infant does not, the sticker lists an emergency contact person for the child.

Developed by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Highway Safety Office, the Child Safety Seat Emergency ID Sticker is reflective and has two parts. Two small square stickers are placed on the sides of the car seat so first responders will know to look for the main sticker. The main sticker -- located on another part of the seat that’s not visible – contains ID and medical information. The two-part design allows the child’s personal information to be protected from view.

A news conference to introduce this important safety sticker to Virginians will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. in the parking lot at the Children’s Museum of Richmond (CMoR) at 2626 West Broad Street. Speakers from CMoR, DMV, Virginia State Police and Virginia Department of Health’s Emergency Medical Services will provide information about the sticker.

In addition, a child safety seat check event will begin after the news conference. Anyone who transports children is invited to have their child seat checked by a certified child passenger safety technician to ensure it is properly installed. Nationally, approximately four-out-of-five car seats are installed incorrectly, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In passenger cars, properly installed child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers.

A DMV 2 Go mobile office also will be available during the event to conduct a variety of transactions, including Virginia child identification cards, birth certificates and all other DMV-related services.

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Contact: Brandy Brubaker
(804) 367-6834           
Brandy.Brubaker@DMV.Virginia.gov